Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee patellar tendonitis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, hallux valgus of the right big toe, GERD, respiratory disorder, chronic sleep disorder, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee arthritis, finding no new evidence relevant to either claim. The claim for left knee arthritis was reopened due to new MRI scan and emergency department records, but it was still denied as there is no direct or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an additional VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent. The right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities have not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of motion.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability has not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of flexion, abduction, adduction, or rotation.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability has not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of extension.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right hip and right knee conditions, finding new evidence relevant to these issues. The appeal is allowed in part.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and conducting new examinations to address service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, bilateral ankle tendonitis, and sinusitis. The claims for a back disability, left shoulder disability (residuals of humeral head fracture), and headache disorder were denied as the evidence did not support a nexus to service. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee DJD, as there are outstanding questions regarding medical nexus and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and opinions. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is alleged to have caused or aggravated his lumbar spine strain and left knee meniscus tear.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's right knee and unspecified hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within VA standards.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for nummular eczema has been denied due to the lack of intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.

The claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees are granted. The claim for a higher initial evaluation than 30 percent for chronic sinusitis is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate examination report. The Veteran needs updated medical records, including those from private providers, and a new orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lung disorder, increased ratings for right and left knee disorders, and compensable ratings for scars associated with those conditions. The Veteran's military occupational specialty (MOS) and service are being reviewed to determine if asbestos exposure resulted in his current lung disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for Traumatic Brain Injury, Migraine Headaches, Left Knee Chondromalacia, Right Knee Chondromalacia, and Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to failure of the Veteran to attend scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee strain with ITBS is remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened. The new evidence submitted does not establish a nexus between the conditions and service, but the Veteran has provided lay statements indicating that his current symptoms are related to service-connected depression.